Telephone signaling apparatus.



S. S. STOLP.

TELEPHONE SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31. 1914.

1,1 83, 1 35 Patented May 16, 1916.

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TELEPHONE SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1914.

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S. S. STOLP.

TELEPHONE SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 31,1914- 1 1 83-,1 35. Patented May 16, 1916.

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Mg m 0 v @377" WWW A/fy ment, the reed being included in a tone test UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' SAMUEL S. STOLP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TELEPHONE SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Application filed March 31, 1914. Serial N 0. 828,567.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL S. SToLP, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chi- *cago, in the county of Cook and State of clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to apparatus for interrupting currents used for signaling. The object of this invention is to provide novel interrupting apparatus for intermittentlyapplying signaling current to a signaling system and for periodically interrupting a source of current to produce a distinctive signaling current.

In accordance with this invention there is provided an electromagnetically controlled interrupter in circuit with a source of signaling current. A distinctive tone-producing device isalso provided which is operated in the operation of the interrupter..

One feature of this invention is the means provided for obtaining a uniform vibration of the armature of the electromagnet. Specificall'y this feature consists in making the magnet slow acting and providing a free swinging pendulum operating in conjunction with the armature.

As another feature of this invention means are provided for producing a tone signal operated in the movementof the armature. This feature consists specifically in the provision of a vibrant reed which is struck by means carried by the armature in its movecircuit. I v

Other features of the invention are the details of construction of the apparatus and combination of parts by means of which a simple and efiicient structure and system are obtained.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is a perspective view of a. device embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a view in side elevat on of the complete structure; Fig. 3 1s a new of the opposite side to that shown 1n ljig. 2, with parts broken away; F1g. 4 1s a v1ew in side elevation with parts removed and parts in section of the device showing the armature in operative position; Fig. 5 is a diagram of a circuit and apparatus embodying this invention.

As shown in the drawings, 5 designates a supporting base, triangular in shape, which 1s mounted upon legs 6, 6, 6. Secured to the base 5 is a frame member comprising a horizontal member 7 and end members 8 and 9. Secured to the end member 8 is an electromagnet frame 10 upon which is mounted the helix of an electromagnet 11, and upon the upper end of which is pivotally supported an armature 12. The armature 12 is provided with two downwardly projecting members or legs 13 and 14, which straddle the magnet 11. Carried by the leg 13 is .a pivotal pawl 15 which engages a ratchet Wheel 16 carried by a rotatable shaft 17 supported in the end frame members 8 and 9. The pawl 15, in the movement of the armature 12, rides over a guide pin 19 into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 16, and thereby advances it one step for each energization of the electromagnet. A stop screw 20 carried in the projection 21 of the end member limits the movement of the pawl 15. Carried by the shaft 17 are a plurality of cams 25, 25, which are illus- I trated in this case as star wheels. Secured to the horizontal member 7 of the frame are a plurality of spring piles 26, 27 28, 29 and 30. The spring piles 26, 27, 28 and 29 are located opposite the cams 25, 25 and each has one spring adapted in the rotation of the shaft 17 to be engaged by a projection on the corresponding cam 25 to close a circuit which may in this particular case 'connect ringing current with a telephone line. As shown, the contacting surfaces of the cams 25, 25 are in staggered relation with respect to each other so that different springs will be engaged'a-t different periods by their operating cams.

In the spring pile 30 there is a buifer spring 31, a vibrant reed or steel spring 32, and circuit-controlling springs 33 and .34 for the electromagnet. Secured in a projection 35 of the leg 13 of the armature is a springactuating member or pin 36, the lower end of which is pointed. This pin normally stands in engagement with the buffer spring 31, but upon the energization of-the magnet swings over into engagement with and closes the contact springs 33 and 34. In its swinging movement the lower end of the actuating member 36 tips the steel spring or reed 32 and causes it to vibrate. As it vibrates,

reed and the buffer spring 32, thus producing an interrupted circuit of comparatively high frequency. These springs may be included in circuit with the primary of an induction coil and a battery, the secondary of the induction coil beingconnected in a circuit to receive a tone test. The lower ends of all of the springs extend downwardly through a slot in the base 5 where connections to per shell 47, as shown in Fig.3. It is byreason of these features that a uniform operation of the device is obtained, as will more clearly appear from a description of the operation of the apparatus. Conductors and 51 are permanently connected with the springs 33 and 34 and with the helix 11 of the electro1nagnet.- A shell 52 is provided for the helix of the magnet 11. Y

In Fig. 5, in which the apparatus of this invention is illustrated in connection with a telephone system, 60, 60, designate fragments of cord circuits each including a ringing key 61 and a plug 62 adapted to connect with a jack 63 of a telephone line. The

interrupter of this invention is shown schematically with only one cam or star 71 and a switch 72. The steel spring or reed- 32 and the bufler spring 31 are included in circuit with the source of energy 71 and the primary 73 of an induction coil, the secondary 74 of which may be connected with a busy test apparatus.

In the operation of the apparatus and system, the switch 72 will be normally 'closed to close'the circuit of, the helix 11 of the electromagnet. As the armature 12 is attracted the arms 13 and 14 thereof move the pawl 15 and the pendulum 45. The movement of the pawl 15 causes one step of the ratchet wheel 16. As the armature moves into its energized or attracted position it will cause the contact-operating member to first tip the steel spring or reed 32 to vibrate to open and close the contact 37 on the buffer spring 31, thus changing the potential through the primary 73 of the inducoperated position by the residual magnet-j ism of the magnet set up.by reason of the copper shell on the core of the helix 11:

The momentum of the pendulum 45 will carry itand' the armature 12 back past their position of equilibrium and due to the co per shell on the core of the helix 1'1, tie

magnetism thereof will be slow to build up after the short-circuit is removed. The pendulum 45 will, therefore, have started on its return movement to the position in which it was'originally moved by the attraction of the armature 12 before the magnetism of the electrolnagnet will again become effective, whereupon the operation will be repeated. The stepby-step'movemnt of the shaft 17 will, therefore, be at practically the frequency of the pendulum. The steel spring or reed 32 will be struck twice for each complete swing of the pendulum. As the armature 12 operates andthe pendulum swings, any particular cam or star wheel 25 will have oneof its engaging surfaces brought into engagement with its corresponding spring once in every four swings of the pendulum. Assuming that one of the ringing keys is depressed and the period of vibration of the pendulum 45 is approximately one second, the ringing current to the line through any particular spring and cam will be on for one second and off for three seconds. This period of time may be varied, of course, by the structure of the cams 25. Each set of ringing contacts will carry ringing current for a certain number of lines.

W'hat is'claimed is:

1. In a circuit-interrupter, a shaft, cams for said shaft, contacts controlled by said .ca1ns, an electromagnet for operating said dulum operating in conjunction with said armature.

3. In a circuit-interrupter, a plurality of contacts, a cam-carrying shaft for controlling said contacts, an electromagnet for operating said shaft, retarder means for controlling the operation of said electromagnet,

and other contacts operated by the electromagnet for controlling the energization of said electromagnet.

4. An interrupting device comprising an electromagnet, oscillating means controlled thereby, circuit-interrupting mechanism con trolled by said oscillating means, and a vibratory circuit-interrupting means initially actuated by said oscillating means.

5. An interrupting device comprising an electromagnet, an armature therefor, legs formed on said armature, a plurality of circuit-controlling springs, means controlled by one of said legs for operating said springs, and a pendulum. operating in,conjunction with the other of said legs.

6. In a circuit-interrupting device, a base, a frame carried thereby comprising a horizontal member and two end members, contact springs mounted upon said horizontal member, a rotatable shaft mounted between said endportions, spring-operating cams carried by said shaft 'adapted'to operate a portion of said contact springs, an electromagnet mounted upon one of said end members, means operated by. said armature for causing the movement of said shaft, and means also operated by said armature for actuating another portion of said springs.

7.-An interrupting device comprising an -electromagnet, oscillating means controlled thereby, a step-by-step circuit-interrupting mechanism controlled by said oscillating means, a vibrant reed initially displaced by said oscillatingmeans, and a circuit;inter-' ing said circuit-interrupting springs, electro magnetic driving means for imparting a step-by-step movement of'said cam wheels, a vibrant reed actuated in the step-by-step movement of said cam wheels, and circuit interrupting contacts interrupted in unison with the frequency of vibration of said reed. 10. In a circuit-interrupter, an electromagnet, a shaft operated by said electromagnet, cams on said shaft, a plurality of contacts operated by said cams, according to predetermined time intervals, other contacts operated by said electromagnet to producea predetermined tone frequency, and other or third contacts operated by said electromagnet for controlling the energization of the electromagnet. I

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 19th day of March A, D, 1914:.

SAMUEL ss'roLP.

Witnesses:

Roy E. MoEwEN, JULIA K. MUNROE. 

